Tanzanian striker Bahati Kizanguzi has scooped the top scorers Award at the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship 2026.

Uganda emerged champions after stopping Tanzania in the final played on Tuesday at the KMC Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

During the Awards Kizanguzi who netted 10 goals in the tournament picked the top scorers Award, while South Sudan who finished 4^th picked the Fair Play Award.

Uganda’s duo of Namuwaya Mayimuna and Shadia Nabirye scooped the Best Goalkeeper and Best Player Awards respectively.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) President Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam and and Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President/CAF Executive Member Wallace Karia graced the ceremony.

The competition, the first on the 2026 CECAFA calendar attracted Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti and Zanzibar.

Tanzania have booked a place in the final of the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship 2026.

The hosts saw off South Sudan 4-0 in the second semi-final match played on Sunday at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Bahat Kizanguzi and Harrier Juma gave Tanzania a 2-0 half time lead as the home side dominated play and run rings around South Sudan.

After recess South Sudan tried to compact their defensive midfield with Gal Adhel and Amel Achuil, but still failed to stop the free flowing Tanzanian team.

Yasinta Kaluwa made it 3-0 after 57 minutes, before Kizanguzi netted her second goal of the day after 78 minutes.

“We are happy to reach the final and we prepare well ahead of the match against Uganda,” said the Tanzania captain Harrier Juma.

To reach the final Tanzania defeated Somalia and Sudan, and settled for a 1- draw against Kenya in the last Group A match.

The play-off match to decide the third best team will see Kenya face South Sudan, while Uganda face Tanzania in the final with all matches to be played on Tuesday at the KMC Stadium.

The Uganda Teen Cranes have stopped Kenya to qualify for the final of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship.

Coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes’s team kept a 100% winning run in the competition seeing off Kenya 3-0 in the first semi-final played at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Shadia Nabirye gave Uganda the lead after only 6 minutes. The Kenyan defenders failed to clear out the ball giving Nabirye space to slot the ball past goalkeeper Mishel Ng’ono.

The Kenyan team tried to push forward, but the Ugandan defenders kept a close watch on Bakari Mwanakombo and Emily Mbuya.

Immaculate Achen doubled Uganda’s lead after 40 minutes with another finish from close range.

After recess Kenya’s coach Mildred Omari Cheche made some changes that did not yield fruits. The Ugandan team continued to close out gaps giving the Kenyan team no space to reach the goal.

Three minutes into added time Kenya conceded an own goal by Jael Simiyu after a Ugandan corner kick.

“We are very happy to reach the final after winning all our three matches in the group stage and now the semi-final. The players all wan to face Tanzania in the final,” added Uganda’s coach Botes.

The win was a revenge for the Ugandan team was a revenge against Kenya who eliminated them in the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers last month.

The second semi-final match between hosts Tanzania and South Sudan will be played later this evening. The tournament will climax with the final on June 23^rd.

When the CECAFA U17 Women’s Championship 2026 kicked off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 13th June, two debutant teams, Sudan and Somalia registered a first in the books. Their journeys were marked by challenges, breakthroughs, and a spirit of resilience that will inspire generations in Sudand and Somalia respectively..

Somalia: A Dream Awakened

For Somalia, participation itself was a triumph. Head Coach Mahad Mohamed Hagi admitted he was excited that CECAFA had created such an opportunity for his team. Though results were tough, he emphasized that this was only the beginning: “We will come back stronger than this time.”

Their shining moment came against Sudan, where Somalia secured a commanding victory. Rising star Nagma Mohamed delivered a stunning hat-trick, leading her team to an 8–2 win. That match became a symbol of hope, a proof that Somali girls could compete, score, and celebrate on an international stage.

Sudan: Courage Against the Odds

Sudan’s journey was equally historic, though filled with cultural and logistical hurdles. Assistant Coach Aisha Mohamed spoke candidly about the short preparation time and assembling a team, with cultural challenges noting parental consent that is not always a guarantee. Eitherway they did turn up in the international stage, despite these barriers and took the field with determination.

Head Coach Burhaneldin Yousif Tia Ahmed praised the effort as the start of a journey that gives hope for future progress. Sudan finished last in their group against Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia, conceding 21 goals. Yet, they celebrated two historic strikes , goals by Fatin Fadol and Naswa Abbas, moments that symbolized courage and possibility. Everybody now knows Sudan has a U17 Women’s national Team and theres is path we are creating into senior women’s team.

Beyond the Scoreline

While the scoreboards told of defeats and heavy losses, the deeper story was one of breaking barriers. For both Sudan and Somalia, this was their first-ever appearance in a CECAFA women’s youth tournament. The challenges of culture, resources, and experience were immense, but stepping onto the pitch itself was a victory.

Their participation planted seeds of progress: inspiring young girls back home, proving to federations that investment in women’s football matters, and showing the region that the future of the game is inclusive.

In Dar es Salaam, the girls of Sudan and Somalia didn’t just play football